Snow basket and sports pole with snow basket

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a snow basket  16  comprising a connecting portion  24  by which the snow basket  16  is connected or connectable with a main body of a pole  10 , and a snow catching portion  28  which extends out from the connecting portion  24  and comprises an outer delimiting edge  36 , wherein the snow catching portion  28  comprises a slot  42  which reaches from the outer delimiting edge  36  to an inner portion  44  of the snow catching portion  28  and is open at the outer delimiting edge  36.

The present invention relates to a snow basket comprising a connecting portion by which the snow basket is connected or connectable with the main body of a pole, and a snow catching portion which extends out from the connecting portion and comprises an outer delimiting edge. The invention furthermore relates to a sports pole which comprises such a snow basket.

Poles with snow baskets are part of the equipment for hikers, mountain climbers, touring skiers, mountaineers or the like and, on the one hand, allow the arms' muscle power to provide assistance when moving up the mountain and, on the other hand, offer security and grip by keeping the body balanced when climbing up or down or when setting off. The pole is held by the user in a grip zone and planted on the ground with a pole tip zone.

A snow catching portion of known snow baskets generally has a plate- or dome-shaped contour and, to reduce weight, may comprise one or more orifices or also have a mesh-like structure. When the pole is stuck into the blanket of snow, the snow catching portion comes to a rest on the snow and prevents the pole from sinking too deep.

As a result of the compressive force on the ski pole, in particular when climbing uphill, the snow is compressed under the snow basket and pressed against the snow catching portion, such that snow often remains stuck to the snow catching portion. When load is once more applied to the pole, the quantity of adhering snow may increase further until finally a large lump of snow is sticking to the snow catching portion and has to be laboriously removed by the user because it markedly increases the weight of the pole which has to be moved.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a snow basket for a pole, in particular a touring ski pole, which reduces the problem of snow sticking to the snow basket, such that less effort is required to clean the snow basket during use. Another object of the invention is to provide a sports pole with such a snow basket which permits use with the fewest possible interruptions for cleaning the snow basket.

To achieve the above-stated object of the invention, the present invention provides a snow basket comprising a connecting portion, to which the snow basket is connected or connectable with a main body of a pole, and a snow catching portion, which extends out from the connecting portion and comprises an outer delimiting edge, wherein the snow catching portion comprises a slot which reaches from the outer delimiting edge to an inner portion of the snow catching portion and is open at the outer delimiting edge.

The essential feature of the invention is thus a slot which is formed in the snow catching portion and reaches to the outer delimiting edge. It has been found that, thanks to such a slot, the mechanical stability of the snow basket for performing its supporting function can be retained, while markedly less snow sticks to the snow catching portion than in the case of a conventional snow basket which does not comprise such a slot. This result was not in any way to have been expected and was surprisingly identified in the course of testing by the inventor. One possible explanation for the reduced tendency of snow to stick may be that the slot modifies the deformation behaviour of the snow catching portion in such a manner that different subportions of the snow catching portion are differently deformed or lifted relative to one another and this internal deformation movement of the snow catching portion counteracts snow adhesion.

This explanation is supported by the observation that it has proved particularly effective if the slot subdivides the snow catching portion into at least two adjacent subportions which are resiliently movable relative to one another. Due to the slot, the snow catching portion is thus weakened and at least two subportions on each side of the slot may mutually independently flex resiliently. Since the load on the snow catching portion from the underlying snow never applies uniformly over the entire snow catching portion, but instead, for example due to the slope of the ground or movement of the pole, two different loads are applied in the majority of situations to the at least two subportions, the two subportions deform or pivot to differing extents when the pole is planted in the snow and subjected to load. It has been found that due to this flexibility, which is imparted to the snow basket according to the invention, the resilient movements of the two subportions reduce snow adhesion.

The length of the slot preferably amounts to at least roughly one third of the length of the snow basket measured in the direction of slot extension. Even for such slots, a more marked reduction in snow adhesion was observed. Preferably, however, the length of the slot amounts to at least roughly half the length of the snow basket measured in the direction of slot extension, such that the greatest possible proportion of the snow catching portion may be subdivided into at least two blade-like subportions which are mutually independently deformable or movable.

The slot may then in particular reach as far as a central portion of the snow catching portion or even completely cross over the central portion. Since the central portion is of particular significance in terms of statics to the deformation characteristics of the snow catching portion, such a far-reaching slot creates particularly good flexibility of the two subportions on each side of the slot. At the same time, the snow basket still exhibits sufficient stability such that, while it yields somewhat under the compressive force of the snow in the course of elastic deformation of the subportions, it does not bend back completely, which would result in loss of the supporting function of the snow catching portion. As is known per se, mechanical stability against the snow catching portion bending back when pressure is applied to the pole may be increased by the upper side of the snow catching portion being curved upwards (towards the grip of the pole) in the manner of a shell.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion is located on a line which extends the extension of the slot. The two subportions of the snow catching portion on each side of the slot then extend from the connecting portion and may at this point both be held stable close to the pole. The flexible movement between the two subportions then primarily occurs at the distal ends of the two subportions remote from the connecting portion.

In a further preferred embodiment, the extension of the slot is substantially linear, such that the slot is simple to manufacture and has the least possible influence on other design features of the snow basket.

The delimiting edges of the slot preferably extend substantially parallel to one another in order, on the one hand, to prevent the two subportions on each side of the slot from hindering their resilient movement and, on the other hand, to avoid relatively large passage holes in the snow catching portion. A slot with a width which varies along the direction of slot extension is, however, equally conceivable, for instance a slot which narrows inward from the edge. However, even at the slot opening, the subzones on each side of the slot should still be arranged adjacent one another, such that the subzones support one another when adhering snow is detached.

In particular for ski touring use, it has proven advantageous for walking on a slope, even in a conventional snow basket, for the connecting portion to be offset to one side relative to a central portion of the snow basket, such that the extent of the snow catching portion on a side facing the slope is smaller than on a side of the pole remote from the slope. A snow basket according to the invention may also comprise such an offset of the connecting portion relative to the central portion of the snow basket in one direction, i.e. be located in front of the central portion, the opening of the slot to the outer delimiting edge then preferably being offset with regard to the central portion in the other direction, i.e. being located therebehind. The two subportions on each side of the slot, which according to the invention are mobile relative to one another, then extend on the side of the pole remote from the slope.

An optimised shape of the snow basket according to the invention, including the slot, is obtained if, in a projection of the snow basket in a plane orthogonal to the pole axis, normal rays which are located orthogonally on the outer delimiting edge do not intersect the snow basket and normal rays which are located orthogonally on the slot delimiting edges of at least one portion of the slot do intersect the snow basket. It has been established that this shape provides a good balance between good supporting behaviour and a low tendency to snow adhesion.

According to a further aspect, the present invention achieves the stated object by providing a sports pole which comprises a snow basket according to any one of the preceding claims. By means of a sports pole, the advantages and effects described above in connection with the respective embodiments of the snow basket according to the invention may be made exploitable for use in alpine and winter sporting applications, in particular in touring skiing.

In a preferred embodiment of the sports pole according to the invention, it is proposed that the direction of slot extension is oriented substantially parallel to a forwards direction of the sports pole and that the connecting portion is arranged in front of the slot in the forwards direction of the sports pole. The two subportions on each side of the slot then extend backwards from the connecting portion and thus provide no obstruction to forwards movement on a mountain.

The invention is explained in greater detail below on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a ski pole according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a view from below of a snow basket zone of the ski pole shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the snow basket zone of the exemplary embodiment along a section line L in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the snow basket zone of the exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view from below of the snow basket zone of the exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the snow basket zone of the exemplary embodiment, and

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view from above of the snow basket zone of the exemplary embodiment.

A ski pole 10 shown in side view in FIG. 1 comprises a stick-shaped main body 12, a grip zone 14 arranged at the upper end of the main body 12, a snow basket 16 arranged at the lower end of the main body 12 and a pole tip zone 18 arranged at the bottommost end of the ski pole 10. A pole axis direction S extends from the grip zone 14 to the pole tip zone 18 along a pole axis AS.

The grip zone 14 comprises a grip 20 with a grip loop 22. The ergonomic shape of the grip 20 and the position of the loop 22 define a forwards direction V of the ski pole 10, along which a user of the ski pole 10, who is gripping the ski pole 10 by the grip zone 14 in a normal use position, moves forwards, the forwards direction V being defined parallel to a horizontal plane H.

The main body 12 is formed of a light metal tube, the centre axis of which coincides with the pole axis direction S. The main body 12 may comprise a telescopic tube system so that the length of the sports pole 12 may be adjusted.

The snow basket 16 is fastened to the main body 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the snow basket 16 is asymmetrical with regard to the main body 12, with a portion of the snow basket 16 located in the forwards direction V being smaller than a portion of the snow basket 16 located in a backwards direction opposite to the forwards direction V. In this manner, the snow basket 16 also defines the same forwards direction V as the grip zone 14.

The snow basket 16 of the ski pole 10 is hereinafter also explained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

The snow basket 16 is manufactured from a plastics injection moulding composed of a single material and comprises a connecting portion 24, to which the snow basket 16 is connected with a lower end 26 of the main body 12, and a snow catching portion 28, which extends out from the connecting portion 24.

The connecting portion 24 comprises a first bore 27 extending along the pole axis AS, into which the lower end 28 of the main body 12 is introduced, and comprises a second bore 30 extending along the pole axis AS, into which a metal tip 32 is introduced from below.

The snow catching portion 28 extends from the connecting portion 24 in the form of an upwardly curved, dome-like plate, in which are formed passage openings 34 for reducing weight. As outer limit, the snow catching portion 28 comprises an outer delimiting edge 36 which, with the exception of a slot opening 38 to be described below, runs completely around the snow catching portion 28 and the connecting portion 24.

At the slot opening 38, the outer delimiting edge 36 develops into slot delimiting edges 40, which delimit a slot 42 on both sides. The slot 42 extends from the slot opening 38 into the interior of the snow catching portion 28 and, in so doing, passes through somewhat more than half the length I of the snow basket 24 measured in the direction L of slot extension. The slot 42 extends along the forwards direction V from a rear end of the snow basket 16 towards the connecting portion 24, in so doing reaching a central portion 44 of the snow catching portion 28.

The slot 42 divides the snow catching portion 28 into a first subportion 46 and a second subportion 48, which remain joined to one another only in the zone of the connecting portion 24 and are thus capable of deforming largely mutually independently in the manner of two blades. In particular, the two subportions 46, 48 (depending on the elasticity of the material used, the thickness of the snow catching portion and the depth of the slot 42) are capable of flexing resiliently to a certain extent upwards or downwards in the pole axis direction S. It is here of particular significance to the effect according to the invention that the two subportions 46, 48 are capable of flexing by different amounts.

The design of the slot 42 in the manner shown in the figures has proven effective for particularly effectively avoiding snow adhesion. As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the delimiting edges of the slot extend substantially parallel to one another, i.e. the slot has substantially the same width b at all points along its direction of extension. The connecting portion 24 is offset relative to the central portion 44 of the snow catching portion 28 in the forwards direction V, the slot opening 38 being arranged behind the central portion 44 with regard to the forwards direction V.

FIG. 4, which is a projection of the snow basket 16 into a plane orthogonal to the pole axis AS, furthermore shows that normal rays N1-N5, which are located orthogonally on the outer delimiting edge 36 of the snow catching portion 28, all point outwardly away from the snow basket 16 and do not intersect the snow basket 16. In contrast, normal rays K1, K2, K3 and K4, which are located orthogonally on the slot delimiting edges 40 of the slot 42, have directions such that they intersect the projected snow basket 16. It should here be noted that the rays N1-N5 and Kl-K4 in each case emerge from the delimiting edge 36 or the slot delimiting edges 40 and extend to infinity, although for reasons of illustration arrow directions are drawn in FIG. 4 and the further extension of the ray is indicated by dots.

While the slot 22 does indeed divide the first subzone 46 and the second subzone 48 of the snow catching portion 28 from one another along the slot 42, such that they are capable of mutually independently flexing to a certain extent, the slot is simultaneously configured such that the two subzones 46, 48 are still always arranged spatially next to or adjacent one another. This has the effect that a relatively large lump of snow which is already exhibiting a tendency to stick to the snow catching portion 28 may be detached due to the fact that the different resilient movement of the two subzones 46, 48 removes the lump of snow from both subzones 46, 48, it being clear that the two subzones 46, 48 assist one another in the detachment process. It is therefore assumed to be advantageous for the slot to be configured such that, despite being separated by the slot 42, both subzones 46, 48 are still capable of interacting with one another by means of the adhering snow. It has accordingly been found that, even in the end zone of the slot 42 close to the slot opening 38, a slot width b between the subzones 46, 48 should be no larger than approximately one quarter of the total width a of the snow basket 16, preferably no larger than approximately one tenth of the total width a of the snow basket 16. 

1. A snow basket (16) comprising a connecting portion (24) by which the snow basket (16) is connected or connectable with a main body of a pole (10), and a snow catching portion (28) which extends out from the connecting portion (24) and comprises an outer delimiting edge (36), characterised in that the snow catching portion (28) comprises a slot (42) which reaches from the outer delimiting edge (36) to an inner portion (44) of the snow catching portion (28) and is open at the outer delimiting edge (36).
 2. A snow basket (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that the slot (42) subdivides the snow catching portion (28) into at least two adjacent subportions (46, 48) which are resiliently movable relative to one another.
 3. A snow basket (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that the length of the slot (42) amounts to at least roughly one third, preferably at least roughly half, the length (l) of the snow basket (16) measured in the direction (L) of extension of the slot (42).
 4. A snow basket (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that the slot (42) reaches as far as a central portion (44) of the snow catching portion (28).
 5. A snow basket (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting portion (24) lies on a line (L) which extends the extension of the slot (42).
 6. A snow basket (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that the extension of the slot (42) is substantially linear.
 7. A snow basket (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that the delimiting edges (40) of the slot extend substantially parallel to one another.
 8. A snow basket (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting portion (24) is offset relative to a central portion (44) of the snow catching portion (28) in a direction (V) and in that the opening of the slot (42) to the outer delimiting edge (36) is offset in the other direction with regard to the central portion (44).
 9. A snow basket (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that, in a projection of the snow basket (16) in a plane orthogonal to the pole axis (SA), normal rays (N1, N5), which are located orthogonally on the outer delimiting edge (36), do not intersect the snow basket (16) and normal rays (K1- K4), which are located orthogonally on the slot delimiting edges (40) of at least one portion of the slot (42), do intersect the snow basket (16).
 10. A sports pole (10) characterised by a snow basket (16) according to claim
 1. 11. A sports pole (10) according to claim 10, characterised in that the direction (L) of extension of the slot (42) is oriented substantially parallel to a forwards direction (V) of the sports pole (10) and in that the connecting portion (42) is arranged in front of the slot (42) in the forwards direction (V) of the sports pole (10). 